Since when do respectable people ever resort to using their fists to solve problems?

Although it called itself a beginner's tutorial, it was just a short paragraph, roughly stating that when the favorability increases by 10 points, you receive points, but the amount differs depending on the person. The favorability system only activates for people who meet certain criteria, and it requires a certain degree of physical contact to unlock. As favorability rises, you also collect the corresponding Zodiac energy from the other person. Once the twelve signs are filled on the Zodiac wheel, you can obtain the ultimate reward.

However, the ultimate reward wasn’t specified. Not that it mattered—he didn’t need to think about it for now, and perhaps he might never achieve it in his lifetime.

As the bell rang, he made his way upstairs. The last two classes of the afternoon were both math, taught by their homeroom teacher. No one dared be late for this class; if you were, you’d be stuck standing outside the door for the full ninety minutes.

Speaking of classes, Linshui City was just an ordinary county-level city, but its high schools were a bit out of the ordinary. In most high schools, the academic workload was so heavy that, starting from the first year, there was no Saturday off—only Sunday. A typical day began with morning self-study at six or seven and ended with classes at ten at night.

However, a few years ago, Linshui had a tragic incident: on the same day, students from two schools fainted during evening self-study due to physical exhaustion and academic pressure; one of them even passed away. For the sake of students’ health, evening self-study was canceled, though an extra class was added to the daytime schedule instead.

Because of this, missing even a single class really meant missing out. If you wanted to go to college, you couldn’t afford to slack off for even one lesson.

He moved against the stream of students heading downstairs, returning to the classroom. As soon as he opened the door, a gust of cool air hit him. He looked up and saw that someone had forgotten to turn off the fan—when the homeroom teacher found out, there would surely be grumbling.

He returned to his seat and took out his math book, laying his head on the desk. The sound of the ceiling fan scraping, the hot wind from the window mixing with the cool breeze above—it all made him want to cry.

To be honest, he missed home. Not for the five and a half million, but because of the unfamiliarity. He had family and friends here too, yet having just crossed over, he couldn’t adapt so quickly.

“Honestly, I still feel like I haven’t grown up,” he thought. Before tears could fall, he forced them back, pressing his hand to his eyes to hold them in.

Just then, the chair beside him creaked. A gentle voice sounded by his ear, “Xu Lin, I’m really sorry.”

“Class leader Ji?” He looked up and saw those eyes, clear as spring water, glinting like gems in the sunlight.

Ji Yun was beautiful, but if you asked anyone what was most beautiful about her, no one would say her face—they’d all mention her eyes.

“Xu Lin, I told you, it’s not that I dislike you or like someone else. I just simply don’t want to date anyone right now. We’re students, we should focus on our studies and get into college. Your eyes are all red—when the others come back to class, they’ll tease you. Here, I have tissues.”

“I didn’t cry,” Xu Lin replied, not taking the tissues, but she stuffed them into his pocket anyway.

“Ji Yun, you don’t have to comfort me. I should be the one apologizing to you.”

Ji Yun paused, puzzled by his apology. She’d seen Xu Lin go upstairs alone and hurried to catch up, planning to offer some comfort. Compared to the troublemakers, Xu Lin had good grades and always seemed sensible and reliable when they talked. During class yesterday, he’d seemed distracted; she wondered if it was her fault and didn’t want that to affect his performance. The troublemakers were a lost cause, but she wanted to talk to Xu Lin.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“The truth is, I didn’t confess because I liked you so much. On the contrary, I did it for my own selfish reasons. If you’d accepted, it would’ve been even more unfair to you. Now you’re comforting me, so of course I owe you an apology.”

“What selfish—” She didn’t finish her question, as a group of classmates bustled in. She stood and returned to her seat opposite him.

“Xu Lin, why’d you come back by yourself?” Li Bin tossed him a basketball, which Xu Lin caught and set under his foot.

“It’s too hot, and besides, I don’t play basketball.”

“What’s there to learn? Just shoot and have fun!”

Li Bin plopped down beside him, a wave of sweat emanating—unpleasant, though not exactly stinky.

“Don’t lean on me, you’ll get sweat all over me.”

“The seats are too close, can’t help it.”

“Li Bin!” The two started horsing around. Ji Yun, not far away, glanced at the laughing Xu Lin, her heart filling with questions. What did he mean by his ‘selfish reason’?

“Yun, what’s up?” Her deskmate Zhuo Yan, also the class academic officer, sat down and followed her gaze. She immediately grinned knowingly, “Looking at Xu Lin?”

“No!”

“Haha, so what if you are? Xu Lin’s pretty interesting—seems honest, never causes trouble. I didn’t expect him to confess to you in front of everyone. Our Yun really is something.”

“No, I actually think he might not simply like me…” Ji Yun recalled his words, curiosity returning.

“Huh? When it comes to liking someone, it’s all about looks. I don’t believe there’s a guy in this school who isn’t moved by our beauty queen.”

“Zhuo Yan, there are plenty of pretty girls in our school. I wouldn’t call myself a beauty queen.”

“Well, even if our school isn’t the best academically, it’s got plenty of beauties. No wonder more boys have been applying here lately.”

A few minutes later, the bell rang. Their rotund but stern homeroom teacher, Zhao Gang, entered, launching into a grueling hundred minutes of math. As the sun set outside, the double period neared its end. From the back row, Ma Zhiyu whispered, “Xu Lin, Li Bin, want to hit the internet café after school?”

“It’s my promotion match today!” Li Bin said excitedly, but Xu Lin shook his head.

“Why not?”

“No reason. I’m heading home…”

“Xu Lin, come solve this problem.”

Xu Lin looked at his annoyed homeroom teacher, feeling a headache brewing. Others chatted away unnoticed, but he always got caught. Fortunately, he knew how to solve the problem. He hurried to the board, finished it quickly, and heard some snickers from below. He froze, then the teacher rapped the blackboard.

“Which one were you supposed to do? Still, you got it right—go sit down. Daydream again and I’ll call your parents.”

“Yes, sir!” Xu Lin nodded repeatedly and returned to his seat.

A dozen minutes later, the bell rang. The class monitors rushed to the blackboard to write down the homework assignments. Most students took out pens to jot them down, but some slung on their bags and dashed out. Ma Zhiyu came over.

“Xu Lin, didn’t you say there was an event tonight? Play a match online and you can get a new skin.”

“I have to study, man,” Xu Lin replied helplessly. Truthfully, he didn’t really want to study. He hadn’t played League of Legends in years, only watched tournaments as a spectator. If he played now, it’d be embarrassing.

“Study my foot! I’ve never seen you study outside of class.”

Li Bin grabbed his backpack, acting like a warlord holding the emperor hostage.

“Honestly, I have a date tonight. Can you two not interfere?”

“Damn, you’ll say anything for an excuse. You just got rejected this morning—what girl?”

“That just proves my skills.”

The three of them bickered their way out to the bike shed, wheeling their bikes out of the school gate, only to see a crowd gathered not far away.

Xu Lin had never cared for such commotion and was about to detour, but Li Bin patted his shoulder.

“It’s Ji Yun—and that brat from the other class.”

Xu Lin looked up and saw Ji Yun and her deskmate Zhuo Yan blocked by Zhang Kang and his crew from the next class. Zhang Kang was the other guy who’d confessed to Ji Yun that morning. His family owned a KTV—though in reality, it was more of a karaoke bar with hostesses, not exactly the most respectable business. Still, it did well, and everyone joked that he was rich and handsome—though, aside from being tall, the rest didn’t really apply.

“Ji Yun, come sing with us.”

“I have so much homework, and if I’m late my parents will worry. Sorry, Zhang.”

Ji Yun forced a smile, turned her bike, and tried to leave. But after only a couple of steps, two boys blocked her way. The tomboy Zhuo Yan, beside her, lost her temper.

“Hey! Zhang Kang, what’s your problem?!”

“What’s your problem, Zhuo Yan?! I’m just inviting you out to sing, or eat, or go for barbecue. Afterwards, I’ll drive Ji Yun home.”

Ji Yun, unable to keep her cool, grew cold.

“Zhang Kang, I told you I don’t want to date. What do you mean by this?”

“Who said anything about dating? We’re just hanging out.”

“I’m not going with you…” Ji Yun frowned, glancing around, hoping a teacher would appear. Some classmates who recognized her wanted to help, but seeing Zhang Kang’s group, they hesitated and sighed.

Just then, a bicycle wheel cut through from the side, and a handsome, expressionless face appeared among them.

“Ji Yun, let’s go. There’s no point in arguing with him.” Xu Lin didn’t look at anyone else, just beckoned to Ji Yun.

“Xu Lin…?” She was stunned, but quickly came to her senses. “Zhang Kang, move, please.”

“Who the hell are you?!” Zhang Kang got off his little moped, towering over Xu Lin.

“Is it any of your business who I am?” Xu Lin sneered, acting the ruffian. Infuriated, Zhang Kang swung at him.

A crisp slap rang out. Xu Lin reeled back with his bike, falling to the ground.

“Xu Lin!?” Ji Yun, startled, threw down her bike and rushed to him, only to see Xu Lin sneak her a quick smile.

A shout came from the edge of the crowd, “What’s going on here?!”

“Officer, Zhang Kang hit someone! That’s him!” someone yelled, and others joined in.

The students made way as two police officers strode quickly toward Zhang Kang.

“Shit!” Zhang Kang stared at his reddened hand, stunned. His friends mounted their bikes and were already ten meters away.